Hikari’s beautifully moving and affably humorous story of human connection, “Rental Family,” kicks off with one funeral and culminates with another, demonstrating the evolution that our protagonist, Philip (Brendan Fraser), goes through during his personal journey between these two events.

The first funeral is a shock. Philip is a struggling actor in Japan, with one massively successful commercial as a toothpaste superhero mascot under his belt. His agent has booked him a gig as “sad American,” a role he can easily play with his looming height, doleful eyes and a heart he wears on his sleeve. Late as usual, he dashes to check in for work, and is shocked to bumble into a somber funeral. He’s even more shocked when the formally dressed corpse starts emotionally reacting to the tearful eulog

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